Automatic slack-adjuster.



' No. 893", 220'. PATENTEDIULY 14, 19 08.

c. 0. ANDERSON; AUTOMATIC SLAOK ADJUSTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28. 1907.

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cHAnLEs OSCAR ANDERSON, or OMAHA, NEBRASKA, AssIeNoRit-rtoNE-HALF TO A. T.

AUSTIN, or OMAHA, NEBRASKA.-

H s pecification Letters Patent. Application filed January 28, 1907. Serial No. 354 431.

Patented July 14, 1908.

- To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known-that I, CHARLES OSCAR AN- DERSON, a citizen of the United States, 'residing at Omaha, in the county'of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Slack-Adjusters, of which the following is a description. I

My invention relates .to means for adjust- 9 ing the members, or taking up the slack,

in brake rigging, and may beadvantageously employed upon any of the usual kinds of hand or power operated brakes. The object of my invention is-to rovide a 1 15,s 1mjle, accurate, and durable device of the described, and one requiring practic'ailly no attention except. when it is necesay-e) renew the brake shoes. 1

"* To; this end my invention consists in the 'noyeleonstruction arrangement, and combination of parts hereinshown and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims- In the accompanying drawings, wherein like orsimilar reference characters indicate like or corresponding "parts; Figure 1' is an elevation of my device with parts removed and broken away to more clearly show the construction. Fig. 2 is a'section taken suba tiallyon line 2'2 0f Fig. 1.- Fig. 3 is'a automatically adjusting the connection be-.

tween the brake shoe andactuating mechanbe operate either'intension or compression as required upon the various styles of brake mechanisms.

In the form shown my device is attached to a simple form of inside hung brake upging in which 1 is the deadlever, as usual y employed, pivotall connected intermed ate its ends to the bra e beams 2 the upper end of the le er, which is broken away in the drawings, being attached to a portion of the t1 n taken substantially on line 33' of shown, to compensate for.,this wear. So

isms at opposite ends of the truck and may car framing in the ordinary manner. the live lever 3 is suitably connected to a brake beam 4 and at its upper end which is also broken awayin the drawings is connected to any desired form of operating mechanism in the usual or in any preferred manner; and my im roved slack adjuster is em loyed to ivota y connect the. lower cm s of the ev'ers 1 and 3.

In the form shown in the drawings, my 5 device comprises a threaded rod or screw 5 provided at one end with the jaw 6 for pivotally attaching the same to the lever 1.

A tubular member 7 inclo'ses a portion of the opposite or threaded portion of the screw 5 andat its extremity is provided with a jaw '8,

pivotally engaging the extremity of the lever 3 ,theinterior ofthe tubular member 7 bein merely a snug sliding fit upon screw 5. threaded sleeve 9 is 'rotatively. mounted jointly upon the screw 5 and tubular mem ber 7 with its threaded part engaging "the threads of the screw and with a shoulder as at 10 adapted to engage the end of the tubular member 7 tocontrol its position upon the 30 screw and thus the-length'of the" device, or thedistancebetween the levers 1 and 3. A' ratchet wheel 11 is rigidly mount-ed upon the threaded sleeve 9" anda spring actuated pawl 12 is mounted upon the member 7 in position 5' to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel and prevent its'rotation in one direction.

Obviously the natural wear .u on the brake shoes and 'otherportions of t e brake rigging will gradually tend to increase the movement of the levers 1 and 3 when setting the brake and it is the function of my device to gradually increase the distance between the free ends of these levers,- in the. forni 1 Y long as the levers 1 and 3 move only the de-. sired distance in setting the brakes Ino adjustment is required but as soon as the travel of the lever 3 becomes excessive such unusual or excessive movement of the lever will operate the mechanism of my device and adjust the length of the connectlon between the levers until the movement is again normal. Any suitable mechanism may be em-. ployed for this purpose. As shown a bell crank lever 14, 15 is pivotally mounted upon the member 7 at 16, and the extremity of the; arm 14, as shown-in Fig, 1, isforked to engage the opposite: sides of a pin 17 or other suitable. part of thelever'3'. Apawl 18 1s 110 formed and proportioned that when the lever 3 is in normal release position the pin 17 will engage one of the forks of the lever 14 movement,

and when the brakes are set the pin 17 will engage the opposite arm but if the movement of the lever is not excessive no operative movement of the pawl 18 will occur. If however the movement of the lever 3 is excessive,.when the lever is moved to set the brakes the pin 17 engages and moves the arm 14' sufficiently to cause the awl 18 to engage the next tooth of the rate et 11 and when the brakes are next released the pin 17 will engage the opposite fork of the arm 14 and rotate the ratchet 11 and sleeve 9 thus adjusting the length of the connection between the levers.

Where my device is employed for inside brakes as shown in Fig. 1, it is obvious that the usualbrake release springs will tend to prevent any longitudinal movementibetween the tubular member 7 and the threaded sleeve 9, but if preferred any suitable means may be provided to positively prevent such In Figs. 4 and 5 an annular groove 20 is provided in the member 7 and a pair of pins 2121 are positioned in suitable openings in the threaded sleeve in position to engage the groove 20 and prevent such longitudinal-movement.

t In the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the diameter of the tubular member 7 is reduced 3 The nextto the jaw 8 to form a shoulder 22. threaded sleeve 9 is of sufficient length to extend slightly beyond the shoulder 22 and is provided with a split collar or other suitable means 23 rigidly secured in position in the sleeve and adapted to engage the shoulder 22, thus providing a strong and durable means to prevent such longitudinal movement.

Obviously it would be extremely difhcult to suitably space the forks upon the lever 14 to satisfactorily operate with all the various forms of brake rigging and for' this reason suitable adjustingmeans is provided for adjusting the operative distance between the forks. In the form shown in Fig. 1 a setscrew 24 is provided upon one of the forks with one end in position to engage the pin 17 for this purpose.

In Fig. 8 aT headed bolt 26 is provided in lace of the set-screw 24, and in Fig. 9 the ever is simply curved and a bolt 27 is provided with an arm 28 formed to serve as the other fork of the lever. In each case suitable jam-nuts or equivalent. means 29 are provided to prevent accidental movement of the fork adjusting means.

In the foregoing specification and in the by Letters Patent is drawings only theispi'eferred form of my device is shown, and it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in my device without departing from the spirit of my invention, hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form and construction shown.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure 1. In a slack adjuster pivoted lever, means connecting said lever to other parts of said brake rigging, comprising a screw, a tubular member, a threaded sleeve rotatably connected with, and partially inclosing,said .tubular member, and mounted upon said screw, with the threaded sleeve engaging the threads thereof, in combination with means adapted to be operated by the movement of said lever for rotating said threaded sleeve to adjust the length of said connecting means.

2. In a slack adjuster for brake ri ging, a pivoted lever, means connecting said Iever to other parts of said brake rigging, comprising a screw, a tubular member, a threaded sleeve rotatably connected to said tubular member and both mounted upon said screw with the threaded sleeve engaging the threads thereof, and a ratchet wheel rigidly mounted upon said threaded sleeve, in combination with means mounted upon said tubular member and adapted to be operated by the movement of said lever for engaging said ratchet and rotating said threaded sleeve, whereby the length of said connecting means will be adjusted.

3. In a slackadjuster for brake ri ging, a pivoted lever, means connecting said ever to other parts of the brake riggin comprising a screw, a tubular member, a t neaded sleeve rotatably connected to said tubular member and both mounted upon said screw with the threaded sleeve engaging the threads thereof, in combination with a ratchet wheel rigidly mounted upon said threaded sleeve, a bell crank mounted upon said tubular member, a pawl attached to one arm of said bell crank and adapted to engage said ratchet to rotate the same, a part upon the leveradapted to engage the other arm of said bell crank to operate the same thereby rotating said threaded sleeve and adjusting the length of said connecting means.

4. In a slack adjuster for brake rigging, a pivoted lever, means connecting said lever to other parts of said brake rigging, comprising a screw, a tubular member, a threaded sleeve rotatably connected to said tubular member and both mounted u )on said screw with apart of the threaded sleeve engaging the threads thereof. a ratchet wheel rigidly mounted upon said threaded sleeve. means for preventing the rotation of said sleeve in one direction and means adapted to be operated only by excessive movement of said for brake rigging, a I

lit

rated only by excessive lever for eiigaging said ratchet and rotating said threaded sleeve, thereby adjusting the other portions of said brake rigging, comprismg a screw," a tubular member, a threaded.

sleeve rotatably connected to said tubular member and both mounted upon said screw,

with a part of said threaded sleeve engaging the threads thereof, a ratchet wheel rigidly mounted upon said threaded sleeve a pawl mounted upon said tubular member for preinone direction, and means also mounted upon said tubular member and adapted to be operated only by excessive movement of said lever for engaging said ratchet and rotating Sg'lld threaded sleeve, thereby adjusting the length of said connecting means.

6. In a slack adjuster for brake rigging, a

pivoted lever, means connecting said lever to other parts of saidbrake rigging, comprising a tubular member, a screw, a threaded sleeve, rotatably connected to said tubular member and both mounted upon said screw, with a part of said threaded sleeve engaging the threads thereof, means for preventing longitudinal movement between. said sleeve and said tubular member and means opermovement of said lever for rotating said threaded sleeve, thereby adjusting the length of saidconnecting means.

r 7. Ina slack adjuster for brake rigging, a pivoted lever, means for connecting said lever to other =-pa -'-ts of said brake rigging, comprising a screw, a tubular member, a threaded sleeve rotatably mounted jointly upon said screw and said tubular member with its threaded part engaging said screw, in combination with a ratchet wheel upon said. threaded sleeve and means adapted to be operated by the movement of said lever for engaging said ratchet and rotating said sleeve, therebv adjusting the length of said connecting means.

8. In aslack adjuster for brake rigging, a:

ivoted lever, means for connecting said ever to other parts of said brake rigging, comprising a screw, a tubular member, a threaded sleeve rotatably mounted jointly upon said screw and said tubular member with its threaded part engaging said screw and means to prevent longitudinal movement between said tubular member and said sleeve, in combination with a ratchet wheel upon said sleeve and means adapted to be operated by the movement of said ver for engaging saidrat'ciiet wheel and to [a ting said sleeve thereby adjusting the-length of said connecting means.

9. In a slack adjuster for brake rigging, a

ivoted lever, means for connecting said ever to other parts of said brake rigging, comprising a screw, a tubular member inclosing apart of said screw, a threaded sleeve rotatably mounted jointly upon said screw and said tubular member with its threaded part engaging said screw, in combination with means adapted to be operated by the movement of said lever for rotating said sleeve, thereby adjusting the length of said connecting means.

10. In a slack adjuster for brake rigging, a pivoted lever, means for connecting said lever to other parts of said brake rigging, comprising a screw, a tubular member inclosing a part of said screw, a threaded sleeve rotatably mounted jointly upon said screw and-said tubular member with its threaded part engaging said screw, and means'to prevent longitudinal movement between said tubular member and said sleeve, in combination with means adapted to be operated by the movement of said lever for rotating said sleeve, thereby adjusting the length of said connecting means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses: j

CHARLES OSCAR ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

BURTON U. HILLS, CHARLES I. COBB. 

